People

At present this page is only in English. If you would like to translate it into your language pleasecontact us.

The NVC Dance Floors were co-created by Bridget Belgrave and Gina Lawrie

Bridget Belgrave has been working with individuals and groups in the field of personal development since 1980, and since 1996 has been a certified trainer with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). Prior to working with NVC she co-directed an Alexander Technique teacher training course, worked in R&D with Effective Intelligence, and integrated Psychosynthesis into her 1-to-1 work and public workshops. She studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at university. Based in Oxford, Bridget works worldwide, and writes. Her novel ‘Zak’, is much loved by children and adults. She is currently co-writing a children's musical to convey the values of NVC. www.LifeResources.org.uk

Gina Lawrie has a background in psychology, social work and management development. She has been working as an independent organisation development consultant for over 20 years in private, public and not for profit sectors. She has recently added a new offering; Empathic Decluttering! Based on NVC, her approach recognises how intertwined our inner and outer worlds are. In the past Gina taught meditation and it is the spiritual basis of NVC and the way that is integrated with practical skills that is what she most values. Based in Farnham, Surrey, Gina introduced NVC in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. She is an assessor of candidates wishing to become certified trainers with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC).www.ginalawrie.co.uk

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) was developed by Marshall Rosenberg

Bridget and Gina both studied and worked with Marshall Rosenberg in the 1990s and 2000s. They developed the Dance Floors as a method for people to learn and practise Marshall's teaching. Marshall travelled almost continually for 25 years responding to invitations to bring NVC to people around the world, and inspired people to join an international network of trainers that continues to grow. Marshall founded the Center for Nonviolent Communication www.cnvc.org

Elkie inspired about 20 friends and colleagues in her network of creative professionals to support this project. In particular Sander Van Gaalen - a highly professional video editor - did all the camera work and editing, with Elkie as the producer. Arthur Theunissen and Piet Krens did the sound design and music. Elkie has a background in performance and in music production, and now works as a CNVC certified trainer giving trainings in banks and other organisations in the Netherlands, and supporting NVC projects in India and Sierra Leone.

22 people came to participate in the filming

On each of three filming days 8 people came to the studio to be in the 'workshop group' for the film. Each day two or three people allowed their personal processes to be filmed for the DVDs, while being coached on a Dance Floor by Bridget. We could not have made these DVDs without their openness and courage to be seen. Thank you people!

The DVDs have subtitles in 6 languages, and the Intro film also in Japanese.Making the subtitles was a marathon project, involving translation of more than 6 hours of video material, and complex menu building on the DVDs. We are stunned how eager, generous and willing so many people were to support us in making the subtitles in their language.English: Dawn Mastin, Bridget BelgraveDutch: Monie Doodeman, Mieke van Opheusden, Anja Strik, Antowi Wibbelink, Gonnie BasFrench: Manibhadri, Godfrey Spencer, Anne Bonew, Caroline Hougardy, Anne Dupont, Farrah Baut-Carlier, Françoise Berry, Thierry CatillonGerman: Yan-Christoph Pelz, Marietta Winkler von MohrenfeisJapanese: Ken AnnoSpanish: Gerardo Sanchez, Rodrigo Suarez, Madeleine Sierra, Eusebi PahissaSwedish: Katarina Hoffmann

Martijn is a software developer as well as a CNVC certified trainer, who saw the potential of creating Apps based on the Dance Floors when he participated in a workshop with Bridget in the Netherlands. The first Dance Floor App 'NVC Dialogue' was released for IPhone and Android phones in 2012. Martijn runs NVC workshops in the Netherlands.

Pauline Dirksen is co-developing a Dance Floor Online Coaching Tool with us

Pauline lives in the Netherlands, and gives online NVC classes and practice groups which reach people worldwide. Many of her classes and personal support sessions utilise the Online Coaching version of the Dance Floors. She comments "I’ve used the online Dance Floors a
lot. The person I coach is interacting with me on the chart of
the Dance Floor – online. The online chart stepping process feels remarkably like moving around on the
steps on the real Dance Floor. In addition, the person I am coaching usually feels at ease because they are at home, and this helps them
to open up."

Sharing the NVC Dance Floors as widely as they are requested has involved creating a publishing business

Since 2010 Ruud Baanders has helped steer the business side of our publishing so as to make possible for us to continue to share and support this work, worldwide. The challenges and complexities of publishing in many languages have been huge and sometimes overwhelming. Ruud has helped us re-structure to be able to sustain our ability to share the Dance Floors. In our new structure, Ruud supports the Life Resources publishing business run by Bridget, which is now the 'official' publisher of the NVC Dance Floors. This has freed Gina up to focus on new work she is involved in. www.mahakaruna.org.uk